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Whitfield County commissioners approve financials, grants and multiple equipment purchases; E911 upgrade authorized
Summary
At its Feb. 12 meeting the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners approved the December 2023 financial statement, authorized grant applications and awarded contracts for park trails, vehicles and equipment; it also approved an AT&T E911 phone‑system contract and moved to process absentee ballots in‑house after public objections.
The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 12 approved the county’s December 2023 financial statement, authorized a string of grant applications and contracts and approved a replacement E911 phone system.
Chief Financial Officer Debbie Godfrey presented the December report, saying LOST collections for December totaled $1,386,140 and year‑to‑date revenues were $58,482,638 compared with projected revenues of $52,980,435; the board approved the financial statement by a 4‑0 vote. The board also approved an annual Superior Court interpreter contract with Silvia Andrade for $98,750 for 2024.
Commissioners approved a commitment of up to 20 percent (up to $60,000) from the general fund to cover potential cost overruns for a RAISE grant application seeking $300,000 for sidewalk and pedestrian‑safety planning near schools and neighborhoods. The board ratified an increase in a GA Southern COVID mitigation grant from $100,000 to $150,000 and authorized purchase of three additional HVAC units for the detention center at a cost of $48,189.
Public‑works and parks actions included awarding a $120,000 contract to Barry Smith Trails to build trails at Rocky Face Ridge Park; declaring two pieces of equipment surplus; approving purchase of two tractors with attachments for $349,211 funded by 2020 SPLOST; and approving three replacement trucks from Ford of Dalton under state contract for $186,600. The board also approved moving $218,319.64 in unused LMIG funds into 2024 and shifting $115,000 of a prior GDOT safety grant into the Public Works striping line item.
Public‑safety and fire operations items included authorizing purchases of personal protective equipment under Sourcewell/NAFECO, approving an MOU with Georgia Northwestern Technical College for training and approving applications for GFSTC and FEMA Assistance to Firefighters grants to acquire 1000‑GPM monitor nozzles and LUCAS chest‑compression devices; the board approved using ARPA funds totaling $12,737.22 for select 2023 expenditures.
The board authorized a contract with AT&T for the county’s E911 phone system replacement in an amount not to exceed $302,313; Chairman Jevin Jensen noted negotiations were still underway and he hoped for a lower final cost. The meeting concluded after an executive session on real estate and formal adjournment.
Votes at a glance: the financial statement, interpreter contract, RAISE commitment, COVID mitigation ratification, Rocky Face Ridge trails contract, equipment purchases, budget adjustments and the E911 contract were all approved 4‑0; the special‑use permit for an event center (see separate coverage) was approved 3‑1.
